Prevention of pressure sores by identifying patients at risk.
The risk of pressure sores developing in patients admitted with acute conditions was assessed by a simple risk score system based on age, reduced mobility, incontinence, pronounced emaciation, redness over bony prominences, unconsciousness, dehydration, and paralysis in a prospective clinical study. During seven months in 1977, 600 of 3571 patients were classified as at risk. Of these 35 (5.8%) developed sores compared with five (0.2%) of those not at risk. The results of this study compared with those over the same period in 1976 show that close observation of at-risk patients and early detection of pressure sores prevents their development.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors